Record tumbles as Irish storm into final

David McCarthy and Paul McKee have qualified for the World Indoor Championship 400m final, and even McCarthy can barely believe it, writes Richard Lewis

AT 3.05pm today at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, Ireland will have two runners in the final of the men’s 400m at the World Indoor Championships. One of them, David McCarthy of Kildare, was so surprised to qualify that he did not even know what time this afternoon’s race was going to take place.

“I can’t believe I have made it, it’s unbelievable,” said McCarthy, who qualified in the second semi-final having watched his countryman Paul McKee progress as the fastest qualifier from the first race in 46.24 — an Irish record.

“I thought if I got to the semi-final it would be objective achieved,” said McCarthy, 19. “Once I was there I thought I could give it a go and do a bit more.

“It is a new era for Irish 400m running with two in the final and both with medal chances. To have two of us go